Alexandria, VA – The holiday season is a time to celebrate, go to parties, and spend time with family and friends.   Additionally, many consumers may not realize that maintaining proper hydration is as important during the colder fall and winter temperatures as it is during warmer seasons.

The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) reminds consumers that bottled water provides the perfect beverage choice for those who wish to avoid or moderate calories, caffeine, sugar, artificial colors or flavors, alcohol and other ingredients.  Whether as a replacement for high-calorie beverage choices or as an alternative to alcohol beverages for guests and designated drivers, bottled water offers consumers a refreshing, hydrating beverage that provides consistent safety, quality, convenience, and good taste.  And with the variety of types available – from spring and purified to mineral to sparking bottled water – consumers have many choices to suit their specific needs and occasions. 

Water plays a critical role in almost every bodily function, and Americans need to remember that it’s easy to become dehydrated in the winter, and not just in the summer.  The colder it is outside, the harder your body must work to maintain proper body temperature – and that extra energy requires proper hydration.  To help individuals meet their personal hydration goals, IBWA has a hydration calculator available on its website (www.bottledwater.org.)  This hydration resource is an interactive tool based on expert resources and the most current findings of the National Academy of Sciences, as reported in its February 2004 report, "Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI) for Water, Potassium, Sodium, Chloride, and Sulfate.”  IBWA’s Hydration Calculator provides helpful suggestions about an individual’s total fluid intake derived from both beverages and food, and other information about water's vital role in refreshment, health and hydration.  To use the IBWA Hydration Calculator, visit www.bottledwater.org.

For more holiday hydration and bottled water tips and for general information about IBWA and bottled water, a packaged food product regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), visit www.bottledwater.org.

The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) is the authoritative source of information about all types of bottled waters.  Founded in 1958, IBWA's membership includes U.S. and international bottlers, distributors and suppliers.  IBWA is committed to working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which regulates bottled water as a packaged food product, and state governments to set stringent standards for safe, high quality bottled water products.  Additionally, IBWA requires member bottlers to adhere to the IBWA Bottled Water Code of Practice, which mandates additional standards and practices, which in some cases, are more stringent than federal and state regulations.  A key feature of the IBWA Bottled Water Model Code of Practice is an annual unannounced plant inspection by an independent, third party organization. For more information about IBWA, bottled water and a list of members’ brands, please contact IBWA Manager of Communications Tom Gardner at 703-647-4607 or tgardner@bottledwater.org.